Mechanical musical instrument



(Nc Model.)

0. H. ARNO.

Mechanical Musical Instrument. No. 242,857. Patented June L4, 1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER H. ARNO, OF WILMINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN AUTOMATIC ORGANCOMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,857, dated June 14,1881.

Application filed February Q3, 1881.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER H. ARNO, of VilnIington, in the county ofMiddlesex and State ot' Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in M eehanical Musical Instrulnents, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical musical instrumentsin which a strip ot' perforated paper, as it is caused to be moved alongin any suitable manner, opens and closes, or causes to be opened andclosed,

air-passages con uectin g musical reeds with the 5o from end to end.This block M has a series of l exert a yielding pressure, but it ispreferable roo bellows, whereby the reeds are caused to sound accordingto the perforations ot said strip.

The Inanner ot carrying out my invention will be fully hereinafterdescribed in detail, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying` plate ot drawings this invention is illustrated,Figure 1 being a vertical transverse section of a mechanical inusicalinstrument constructed according to this invention and as inclosed in acasing; Fig. 2, an end View of the reed-block and traine to which itishinged. Fig. 3 is a detail front view and partial section of thereed-block and the working parts of the instrument on a smaller scale.Fig. 4 is a plan view ot the saine.

In the drawings, A represents a box or casing inclosing the workingparts of this invention. The construction ot' this easing forms no partof this invention.

B B are vertical feed-bellows, arranged in pairs side by side andagainst each side of a l'orcebellows, C, one part, D, of which isarranged to open from and close upon the other part, E, in the operationof the bellows, the part E being stationary, and at its upper end isattached to a horizontal board, F, fastened by screws to the inside ofthe box A. The several feed-bellows at each end are driven from a commondriving-shaft, G, by means of a crank-arm, H, and connecting-rods J,severally arranged together as ordinarily, and the l'orcebellows opensagainst a spriu g, a, at each end thereof.

K is an elongated slot in the board F, opening into the chamber L of theforce-bellows, and M a block, which covers the open slot K (No model.)

vertical chambers, b, arranged side byside and in a vertical planecoincident with the plane ot' the open slot K, and at their lower ends,c, they severally open and communicate with the said open slot Kleadingto the chamber of the forcebellows. Each chamber b is provided with areed, N, the heel cl ot' which reed is at or toward the open lower end,c, of the chamber I), and these reeds open to a common chamber, O, ofthe block, covered by a sheet, P, ot' wire- 6o gauze, tacked orotherwise suitably secured in place. The block M is hung at each end byan elongated ear-piece or loop, f, upon a wire rod, g, whichrunslengthwise ot the block,and is within a groove, h, thereof", and ateach end is hung to an upright, Q., ofthe board F. This wirerod,intermediate of its lengtl1,passesun der a cross-pin, Z, and thenceover raised surfaces or rests m in the blockgroove 71, and between suchcross-pin, in either one or botlrdi- 7o rections, it is bent orotherwise shaped to exert a yielding and elastic pressui e in a downwarddirection upon the block, and thus hold it in' close .contact with theface ot' the board F, about the slotted opening K thereof. Theperforated paper strip passes between this block M and the board F, andthus rows of pertoratious and unperl'orated portions are made to passbetween the slotted passage K for the air from the force-bellows to passto the 8o reed-openings thereto, securing thereby the sounding ot' thereeds in accordance with said rows of perforations in the strip. Thistravel ot' the paper strip is secured by the rota-tion ot' thefeed-rollers R S, of which S is on the 85 driving-shaft G, and at thesame time the bellows are operated. This hanging of the reedblock M,herein described, enables the reedblock to be swung into and out ot itsposition over the air-passage leading from the force- 9o bellows, andwhen in position over the said air-passage, because of the describedarrangement of the spring-rod g, it is caused to press with a yieldingand elastic pressure upon the paper strip passing under and between itand the said air-passage.

The hanging of the reed-block M, as above described, obviously is notdependent upon thearrangemeut of one part ot' the hinge to to adapt theparts to exert a yielding pressure, as stated.

The swinging ot' the reedblock enables the paper strip to be readilyplaced in position over the air-passage K, between the feed-rolls, when,if the block be at rest upon the paper strip, the forward movement ofthe paper will draw it into its position over the air-passage, where,under the continued movement of the paper, it will remain, because ofthe then abutting of the block against stationary blocks T, suitablylocated therefor.

The wire-gauze P protects the reeds against the entrance of dust andotherwise guards them against injury, while at the same time it otlersno obstruction to the passage ot' the sound of the reeds; and,in lieu ofwire-gauze, any material suitably perforated can be used, wire-gauze,however, being preferable for obvious reasons.

The placing ot' the reeds with their heels t0- ward the open lower ends,c, ot their respective chambers secures to the reeds, in the passageofthe air from the bellows through them, better, freer, and strongervibrations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, :ts-

1. In a mechanical musical instrument, the reed-block provided withair-chambers and reeds, and having' its upper longitudinal end suspendedon suitable pivots arranged and adapted to operate substantially asdescribed, whereby said reed-block can be freely swung laterally andentirely disengaged or removed from the music-sheet and the test onwhich the latter travels without disturbing any portion ofthe apparatus,for the purpose of bringing the air-chambers o1' the reed-block into andout ot' line with the air-passage leading to the bellows.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the reed-block provided withair-chambers and reeds, and having its upper longitudinal edge suspendedupon a longitudinal spring which exerts a downward pressure on theblock, and on which the latter can be freely swung laterally andentirely disengaged or removed from the music-sheet and the rest onwhich thelatter travels without disturbing any part ot' the apparatus,for the purpose ot' bringing the air-chambers of the reed-block into andout of line with the passage leading tothe bellows, as set forth.

3. rIhe reed-block M, having air-chambers I) and reeds N, and hung byhinges to suitable supports, in combination with abutments T, arrangedas described, whereby the block can be swung into and out ot' positionin relation to an air-passage, K, and when in its normal position restagainst said abutments, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whcreoiI have hereunto set my hand in the presence ot` twosubscribing witnesses.

OLIVER H. ARNO.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BnowN, WiLLrAM S. BnLLows.

